As digital adoption continues to transform the way business is done
from both an employee and customer perspective, the technology
landscape for most enterprise organizations is getting more complex by
the day. With the proliferation of hybrid clouds, SD-WAN, and a plethora
of connected devices and digital platforms, it’s becoming increasingly
challenging to ensure end-to-end security is in place.
To that end, IT leaders need to focus on implementing integrated
network and security solutions to connect users, devices and partners
to applications and data within the public cloud and private data
centers across the globe. The complexities are quite unprecedented.
As IT and security continue to converge, unfortunately, the teams
needed to do the work are still facing significant talent shortages.
The 2021-2023 Gartner Report on Emerging Technology Roadmap for
Large Enterprises showed that computer infrastructure and platform
services, network, security, digital workplace, and IT automation are
among the key technology areas impacted by IT talent shortages. IT
teams simply don’t have the staff or knowledge to manage all of the
new complexities that are being thrown at them.
In fact, according to the 2022 State of the CIO report from Foundry,
IT leaders are still finding it a challenge to strike the right balance
between business innovation and operational excellence. Beyond all the
specific technology, security, and talent hurdles, the biggest challenge
for IT organizations and CIOs is to keep up with the frenetic pace and
escalating set of responsibilities and demands without burning out.
Network connectivity that scales
No two companies are alike when it comes to connectivity needs.
Usage, applications, latency toleration, data streaming and
storage, as well as branch location needs differ from organization
to organization and even location to location within the same
business. Network connectivity needs to be able to easily scale
up to support an organization’s specific requirements. For this
reason, many IT leaders will include a mix of fiber, wireless,
cable, and DSL for optimal broadband. Because of the inherent
complexities of managing multiple network connections, IT
leaders may consider a managed services provider to help
optimize connectivity across the business to provide a dynamic
and flexible network.
As more enterprises continue to support hybrid workforces
and cloud migration, critical data and applications are also
moving out of the traditional data center to the edge. As security
perimeters evolve, every access point and network element
becomes a potential risk for security breach. The basic firewall
functionality may not be enough to help protect enterprise
networks. Organizations are better served by using an SD-WAN
solution that integrates security into the network functionality.
Connectivity and security, better together
Planning ahead, IT decision makers need to rethink their
approach to traditional networking and security practices. And
as they continue to incorporate technologies like AR/VR, real-
time video streaming, and AI/ML to enhance their interactive
customer experiences, it becomes even more crucial to integrate
security into networking due to the increased vulnerabilities
brought on by the proliferation of end points and data. This
growing importance and rapid evolution of networks beyond
traditional perimeters are driving IT leaders to recalibrate how
best to integrate networks and security.
What to look for in a managed service partner:
- Focus on business results
Look for a partner who not only wants to provide the best service, but
provide the right service to help you meet your business goals.
- Support for both network and security
As network and security become more integrated, having an MSP that
can support on both fronts is ideal.
- 24/7/365 remote monitoring and management
The need for reliable connectivity and security brings with it the need
for 24/7/365 threat monitoring and remediation.
- Advanced security, real-world expertise
The current skills gaps and ever-evolving threat landscape increase the
need for a partner that has the expertise, without a learning curve.
- Ability to service both legacy and modern systems
As enterprises modernize, the need to integrate and service legacy
systems remains.
The complexities of today’s IT environments are challenging for
even the most seasoned and well-staffed teams. Your network
needs to be connected and protected, so you can focus on
delivering value to your business.
Be ready for tomorrow’s security threats with the next
generation of secure networking solutions, with Ethernet,
SD-WAN and advanced security, from Comcast Business.
Learn More